Rebecca McDowell

J.D. · Wayne State University Law School

Rebecca K. McDowell practiced consumer bankruptcy law for several years in the Eastern District of Michigan, representing Chapter 7 trustees as well as consumer debtors, before focusing her career on writing about the law and editing legal content.

She has authored bankruptcy articles on Nolo.com and other bankruptcy sites in the Nolo Network. She holds a B.A. in English from Albion College and obtained her J.D. from Wayne State University Law School in Detroit.

Articles By Rebecca McDowell

Judgment Liens in Bankruptcy: Can You Get Rid of Them?
A judgment lien occurs when a creditor sues you, gets a judgment against you, and files a lien against your property to satisfy the judgment. Under the right circumstances, you can avoid judgment liens in a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
What Happens to My Cosigner if I File Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
If you file Chapter 13 bankruptcy and you have debt with a cosigner, your bankruptcy could affect the cosigner.
Is Your Pension and 401(k) Exempt in Bankruptcy?
If you have a pension or other retirement plan and you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you can probably exempt at least some of your pension and protect it from the bankruptcy trustee.
What Is a Judgment Lien?
A judgment lien is a type of security interest that a judgment creditor can obtain against your property. Below you can learn how a creditor gets a judgment lien, what property the lien can affect, and more.
How to Value Your Home in Bankruptcy
Learn why a home's value is needed to determine whether you can protect home equity from bankruptcy creditors and eliminate wholly unsecured mortgages and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) in Chapter 13.
How to Value Your Car in Bankruptcy
Valuing your car, van, truck, or motorcycle is essential to a bankruptcy case. As with other property, you must list how much each vehicle is worth and whether an exemption protects its equity in the bankruptcy petition.
Should I Surrender My Car in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
If you owe money on your car and file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must decide whether to keep or surrender it. Learn how to let the bankruptcy court and creditors know your intention.